Let them know up front

A few weeks ago I discussed the situation where a patient wants a lot of dentistry — let's say several implants and a bunch of crowns. I said how there are two ways you can tell them how much it will cost: slowly or all at once.

I gave the analogy of ripping a bandaid off and said how it's quicker, easier, more honest and more successful to tell the patient everything up front rather than stringing them along.

Yet, so many dentists do exactly that. They delay telling the patient how much or underquote.

A non-dentist friend who follows my blog recognised the story and sent me this:

"Can't remember if I told you about my treatment by the dental specialist who did all my bite correction work to stop my headaches. That is exactly what he did and it really cheesed me off. In the end once I got to the point where I thought I had a decent outcome I left. If he’d given me the full picture at the start I’d have signed up for the lot.”

The last sentence beginning with "If he'd given..." is very relevant. It's worth re-reading it several times and burning it into your memory.